At Woolley & Wallis, Michael Jeffrey had a collection of 15 lots of stained glass from one source and he noted the benefits of having a small collection rather than the odd individual piece in a sale. On the day, there was plenty of interest from both trade and private buyers. The top prices were for two highly coloured and decorative panels.
The 2ft 6in (78cm) square example shown left depicting four cranes in flight, sold to the trade at £1900. Another, larger at 3ft 2in (98cm) with small panes of birds and flowers framing a roundel designed with red and purple fish, sold to a private buyer at £1800, double the top estimate.
Windows of opportunity
Stained glass, such a pre-occupation of the Victorians from the Pre-Raphaelites to the Aesthetics and the Arts and Crafts movement, has been something of a Cinderella among collectors for the best part of a century. Now, while the lovely and neglected Cinders may not exactly be the belle of the ball, interest in, and prices for, the medium are creeping up.
